The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised alarm over worsening welfare conditions for lecturers, warning that industrial action may be imminent if the Federal Government fails to fulfil its outstanding promises.
In a statement on Saturday, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said university lecturers across the country were “teaching students on empty stomachs” and struggling to conduct research in poorly equipped laboratories and libraries.
“Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy,” the statement read. “They teach students on empty stomachs, conduct research without essential journals, chemicals or reagents, and face rising personal and family expenses with inadequate pay.”
The union criticised what it described as the government’s “flip-flop” approach to collective bargaining, accusing federal and state authorities of neglecting agreements on conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, and academic freedom.
ASUU also lamented the government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, despite receiving a draft from the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee since December 2024.
While noting the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa’s assurance that university strikes would no longer occur, ASUU insisted that words must be matched with action to restore trust and address long-standing issues.